Locator utilizable in forming metal articles



April 15, 1947. N. HALL 2,419,134

LOCATOR UTILIZABLE IN FORMING METAL ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1944ZSheets-Sheet 1 H6 8 INVENTOR. N51. 50h H171. L

ATTORNEY.

April 15, 1947. N. HALL 2,419,134

LOCATOR UTILIZABLE IN FORMING METAL ARTICLES Filed June 17, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 31 40 5 Z 45 1 Y E FIG. 11

- FIGS 60 INVENTOR.

. NEL 50H HfiLL I BY g Z,%; n

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 15, 1947 LOCATOR UTILIZABLE IN FORMING METAL ARTICLESNelson Hall, Detroit, Mich. Application June 17, 1944, Serial No.540,847

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a forming articles of metal, wood or othercharacter hereinafter termed a locator. The purpose is to provide adevice securable to a piece to be formed by means of which all finishedsurfaces thereof are to be located in respect one to another and itslocation may be indicated on the engineering drawing and provides apoint or center in which all measurements on the drawing may be relatedthereto. In the manufacture of the article the locator is positioned onthe casting or other material to be formed corresponding to the positionshown on the drawing and therefore is utilizable by the draftsman inmaking the layout shown by a drawing and the locator itself may beutilized in the construction of the device and in checking the partsubsequent to completion of construction., The locator may be madeintegral with the part to be formed or removable subsequent to formationof the part and replaceable in the checking of the formed part.

These and other objects and features of the invention are hereinaftermore fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawingsin which- Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the preferred form of thelocator.

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section showing the locator applied tothe work.

Fig. 3 is an illustration of the device located in an oversized aperturefor a purpose hereinafter described.

Fig. 4 is a. similar elevation showing the device means utilizable in asutilized with a bushing in an aperture of greater diameter than theportion of the device insertible therein.

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the device supported in a piece of workby a clamp.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the manner of its use in thelocation of a cuttin tool relative to a piece of work to be formedthereby.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing the 10- cator as applied to apiece of work in which apertures and surfaces to be finished are at anangle one to another.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the 10- cator as applied to anothercharacter of work piece.

Fig. 9 shows the relation of the device in respect to a taper bored workpiece. 7

Fig. 10 is an end view showing the locator positioned on a part havingangular side surfaces.

Fig. 11 is an end view ofa part complemental to the part shown in Fig.10 and provided with a way having angular side walls which may beassembled with the part shown in Fig. 10.

"Fig. 12 is a plan of an element adapted for the receiving of shafts tobe positioned at an angle one to another.

Fig. 13 is an elevation cator.

Fig. 14 shows a curved piece of work requiring apertures to be drilledtherein at various angles and indicates the manner of use of the locatorin determining the spacing of the apertures.

The locator in its preferred form consists of a ball like portion Ihaving a base 2 with its under surface 3 at a predetermined distancefrom the center of the ball and a cylindrical shank 4 extends outwardlyfrom the base and may be introduced into an aperture in a piece of workas shown at ie in Fig. 2.

There is a recess 5 between the fiat lower face 6a of the ball and theupper face 5 of the base 2 whereby the device may be held as by means ofa clamp. The groove or recess 6 may also be utilized in removing thedevice as by means of a lever introduced thereinto. The device may beprovided with a threaded aperture 1 to receive a threaded element insecuring the device to a piece of work.

The utility of the device is illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the ball Ihas its terminal portion 4 introduced in an aperture or recess providedtherefor in the work piece A. The ball end provides a means for locatingthe side and end portions 51), 61), lb and 8 of the work piece and acutting tool 9 is set in position to operate on the surface lb by meansof a measuring block H! which may engage the ball I on one side and onthe opposite side engage the face of the tool 9. To finish the surfaceof the end portion -8 a measurement is taken from the ball to locate theline H and this surface 8 is then milled to the line I I, the tool beingheld at an angle at which the surface 8 is to be formed after the mannerindicated in finishing the surface lb. This is continued until thenecessary surfaces of the work are finished. Thus with this singlereference point all sides of a compound angle block for instance may befinished accurately with a few simple measurements.

In the work piece shown in Fig. '7 the ball is utilized as a point fromwhich the surfaces i2 to i9 inclusive of the projecting members aredetermined and others, such as the surface 253 and the position of theapertures 22 l, 22 and 23. All these measurements are taken from theball as a center. The surfaces and apertures are in proper relationshipone to the other and are more accurately and quickly determined than isthe case where no reference points, such as the ball 5, is utilized.

Another character of work piece is shown in Fig. 8 in which are theprojecting members 2 5, 25, 26, 2? and a depression 28 to be formed inthe thereof showing the 10- surface of the block. In the formation ofthis work piece the locator l is positioned in the block 24 and thesides of the block are machined in respect to the ball I as well as thepositions of the several parts. 'If it is necessary to remove thelocator when the fixture is in use and to replace it for conditioning,altering or inspecting it to preferably mounted in a bushing 29 as shownin Fig. 4.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 9 the chuck 28' holds a taper boredpiece of work 29a and the locator I is mounted on a pedestal 32 carriedby the chuck. Thus the taper is readily determined by means of a block33 indicated in dotted lines and the face of the work is determined fromthe surface of the ball as indicated at 3| and likewise the thickness ofthe workpiece indicated by the numeralSZ-i.

Fig. 10 shows the upper part of, a dovetail? with the ball i set withits surface coinciding with the line-36 and the-surfaces 34 and 38 aremeasured from the surface of the ball as indicated at 35 and31.

Fig. 11 shows the mating part of the dovetail shown in Fig. 10. In Fig.11 the ball I is set on the base 34- so that the surfaces wand 45 aremeasured from the surfaceof the ball as indicated at 4 I and 43 whichare thesame as the measurements 35 andtl of Fig. 10with the key 42 inplace.

In Fig. 12 is shown the plan and in Fig. 13 the elevation of a piece ofmechanism in which 43a is. the bed plate having brackets 434a and 65ahaving holes drilled for the shaft 99 and similar holes in. the similarbracket 44a. The ball I is so positioned that. the shaft axes meet atthe center of the ball thus eliminating calculation and'reducing thenumber of measurementsto be made from the'ball. It is also to be notedthat the apertures iortheshaft 59 for the worm and 52 for the worm wheel59 are also determined from the ball i as a center whichbecomes auniversal reference.

In all cases of use of the device it isthe ball end which provides thecenter of measurement and from which all finished parts are to belocated.

By reason of the stem 33a being less in diameter than the aperture 32a,as shown in Fig. 3, the ball'element may be adjusted laterally of thecenter of the aperture and, by means of the calipers, such as'shown inFig. 14, the ball element 36amay be set in the desired position.

Upon removal of the calipers a drill may be positioned to be moved intothe aperture 3211 on the axial line of the ball subsequent to removal ofthe ball element 36a and parts connected therewith. Thus the aperture32a is centered in respect to an adjacent aperture. By this arrangementthe successive apertures may be accurately positioned relative one tothe other as may be required.

One of the problems arising in drilling holes in curved parts,especially in stream line structures, is the'locating oi the centers aswill be understood from the following:

The aperture or hole M is first drilled at a desired point in the part56 to receive the stem 4 of the locator. The hole 32a is then locatedapproximately with respect to the aperture of the hole 66 and is drilledlarger in diameter than the diameter of the stem 33a of the locator. Thelocator is slidably positioned and secured in place by means of thescrew I! and washer 59. It may then be tapped slightly to position theball end relative to the ball end of the locator in the aperture 64 tofinal position as determined by the micrometer 61.

It then isclamped solidly in place by the screw.

The part 54 is thereafter positioned so that the axis of the locatoraligns with that of the drill spindle. The locator is then removed andthe hole 63 bored to size. This method is repeated with other holes tobe formed in a curved surface.

A special form of thev locator i shown at 58 in Fig. 14 in which theball is not provided with a stem but is secured in place by means of along screw 60 extending through a Washer 59a for. clampingthe same inplace.

In Fig. 14 the ball 51 is shown as unprovided with a stem and a strap 55is utilized to hold the ball. A screw 56 passes through the strap intothe work piece 54. Another form of clamp is shown at the right hand sideof the figure wherein an aperture is provided in a curved surface. Inthis arrangement one end of the retainerv strap 55. engages the locatorI and. is supported at its opposite endby block 67a to position thestrap in a plane at a right angle to aperture 95. Like means may beutilized in determining the position for the'aperture 65.

The several illustrations indicate a few of the possible uses of thelocator as well as various forms thereof particularly in respect topositioning the same in or on a work piece. It is tobe'understoodhowever that the locator may be used in many ways not here shown butobvious to a workman acquainted with the utility of the device.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A device for the purpose described, comprising an element having aterminal portion at one end for engagement in an aperture, the oppositeend being of a ball-like form including a base for seating in fixedrelation with the surface of an element having an aperture to receivethe said terminal portion, the outer surface of the base being at adistance from the center of the ball equal to its radius, the ball endproviding a station for locationof other portions of the element inwhich the ball is seated.

2. A locator for the general purpose described, comprising a ball-likeelement, a stem therefor, a flange on thestem for engaging the work, thesurface of the flange engaging the Work being spaced from the center ofthe ball a distance equal to its radius.

3. A locator for the general purpose described comprising an elementhaving a ball shaped portion and a stem extending radially therefrom,the stem having a fiange'providing a surface for engaging the surface ofa work apertured to receive the stem, there being a groove between theflange and the ball-like end portion to receive a tool for removal ofthe device from the work piece.

NELSON HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IEN IS Number Name Date 1,296,195 Laessker Mar. 4, 19191,536,734 Tanner May 5, 1925 1,394,004 Gould Oct. 18, 1921 1,101,601Wendt June30, 1914 1,329,234 Evans Jan. 27, 1920 1,253,680 Giern et alJan. 15, 1918 2,178,293 Wogeck- Oct. 31, 1939

